Contributed by: Ben_ConoleyBen_Conoley(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on September 19th 2006When the Hope Conspiracy released the Hang Your Cross 7" EP earlier this summer, the band made sure their fans knew nothing had been lost in the band's ability to write crushing and aggressive hardcore.
What was refreshing about it was that in its short duration, it managed to stand out amongst i.

When the Hope Conspiracy released the Hang Your Cross 7" EP earlier this summer, the band made sure their fans knew nothing had been lost in the band's ability to write crushing and aggressive hardcore.

What was refreshing about it was that in its short duration, it managed to stand out amongst its contemporaries. Death Knows Your Name is an exceptional release by most standards. Unfortunately, by the Hope Conspiracy's standards, it finishes with less than perfect results. Had this release carried the name of most modern hardcore albums, it would have been noted as a remarkable exception to the status quo, but it wasn't recorded by any other band -- it was recorded by the Hope Conspiracy.

Make no mistake, the Hope Conspiracy still stand out in a scene of cookie cutter drones. When compared with their peers in modern hardcore, they're at the top of their class. Death Knows Your Name pummels through its 11 tracks in just over 30 minutes, at most time leaving the listener with little time to do so much as catch their breath during the occasions in which the tempo is slowed -- which isn't very often.

What's unfortunate is that on more than a few occasions while working through Death Knows Your Name you're bound to ask yourself, "Hasn't this been done on an earlier song?" Perhaps what was so refreshing about Hang Your Cross (besides the band's return) was that it didn't have time to repeat itself.

On tracks like "So Many Pigs So Few Bullets," there's no other band I'd rather be listening to -- of any genre. The album's opening song, "They Know You Not," displays the Hope Conspiracy's fantastic ability to blend a battering ram of rhythm with a somehow harmonious undertone. Had the band been able to carry the aggression and somewhat perverted melody through the rest of the album without sometimes becoming noticeably unfocused, this could have been the album of the year. Kevin Baker's vocals are as vicious and worthy of a last breath as ever, and it's great to have him back with these musicians, despite the quality of the Bars' album.

With every bit of confidence standing in this site's review of Hang Your Cross, perhaps it would have been better for the Hope Conspiracy to release an EP and hold off on the full-length for a while and maybe take some time on the road to ripen their aggression.

The Hope Conspiracy may be the most reluctant of heroes, but they had people holding their breath for this album. While it's no doubt worth picking up, it's simply not perfect, and perfect is what their fans were hoping for. But I don't want to end this review on a negative note. Death Knows Your Name stands out amongst this year's hardcore albums and I'm sure that when 2007 rolls around, we're going to wish more hardcore albums carried the same integrity and substance as this does.

I just started listening to this again since the first few months since it came out last year and all I can say is wow. Not only is this their best release to date, but probably the best hardcore album of the last decade. This band always stood out from the rank and file bro hardcore breakdown bullshit overwhelming hardcore these days and this release on further cements their status as something so much more. I give it a 9.5/10 and thats because I would have rather heard the song Stolen Days going out with a bang to finish the album as opposed to slowly winding down.

this is what sheer, punching until ones knuckles bleed through flesh sounds like.

Anonymous (October 1, 2006)

This is possibly Hope Cons best release yet. The person who reviewed this is a complete retard. It seems every album is more intelligent than the last, heading more down the track of bands like Suicide File and Modern life is War. This is defiantly a Deathwish sounding realease. Any fan of modern hardcore needs to check this out.

"What do they really sound like? When I see the word "hardcore" in the first paragraph I am always turned off. How much hardcore punk can a person really listen to?"

The HopeCon are not really hardcore punk. That would be Comeback Kid, With Honor, Bane etc. HopeCon are more like "Hardcore Rock n' Roll" if that means anything to you. That's the best I have for you right now I'm tired.

Am I the only one here sick of the overload of hardcore reviews? What's to motivate me to check out a band that may possess the exact same qualities that lead me to listen to established, traditional, and more accessible hardcore acts? What makes this band something I should seek out? What do they really sound like? When I see the word "hardcore" in the first paragraph I am always turned off. How much hardcore punk can a person really listen to?

i was really bummed out a couple of weeks ago when i talked to the guitar player and he said they won't be doing any touring on this album. they have been away long enough that they think they would just be starting over and don't think its worth it apparently. they were a really intense live show and from what i've heard, the new album is better than any of the older stuff. oh well i guess, you win some, you lose some

For some strange reason FYE had this about two weeks ago and I picked it up. It just didnt have the same bite that Coldblue or Endnote had that I really loved. Little bit more of Bars in here. Oh well, its growing on me.

This album is amazing, probably my favorite hardcore release of the year. The songs are less straight-up hardcore, with a rock-metal tinge to them that worked really well with Bars, and works even better with Hope Con.

I can't think of many hardcore albums released this year that can compare, if the new Converge doesn't top this, I don't think anything will.

This is the first proper full-length from Deathwish of 2006 I liked. It should not have taken near that long! (Though the teaser EP was good, My Love, My Way is obviously great, and I'm looking forward to the Life Long Tragedy stuff.)